The Master of Science program in Geotechnical Engineering at UCSD will build upon common themes in the Department of Structural Engineering to provide a unique specialization that sets it apart from other geotechnical programs around the country. This Includes a focus on both geomechanics fundamentals and soil-structure interaction. Soil-structure interaction is critical to consider when addressing the response of built environment to earthquakes/natural hazards, thermal loading, stability and deformation of slopes and retaining walls, etc.
The focus on soil-structure interaction is facilitated by incorporating faculty research findings obtained using the unique experimental facilities at UCSD into the set of geotechnical courses provided, as well as allowing students to take structural electives available in the department.
There is a strong demand for geotechnical engineers in Southern California, and the coursework and mentoring opportunities in this M.S. program will help put students on the right career trajectory to succeed.
The M.S. students in Geotechnical Engineering must complete 12 courses as a part of their degree. Students are required to complete the 4 core courses, and must take at least 4 geotechnical electives. The remaining 4 courses can be geotechnical or structural engineering electives as well as geology courses offered by Scripps Institution. Opportunities to engage in research through a M.S. thesis will be available and can be counted as two courses.
In addition to the 48 units, students must take SE 290 every quarter in the first year for both degree options, and are strongly recommended to take it for at least one quarter in each subsequent year.
The M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering is meant to provide the necessary expertise required to practice. It is offered to both students who would like to directly continue their studies after their undergraduate degree in structural or civil engineering.
- The M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering Comprehensive Plan
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Requirement
Comprehensive option (units)
Core Courses
SE 241 Advanced Soil Mechanics (4)
SE 242 Advanced Foundation Engineering (4)
SE 250 Stability of Earth Slopes & Retaining Walls (4)
SE 271. Solid Mechanics for Structural & Aerospace Engineering (4)
Geotechnical Technical Electives
Four Geotechnical Electives (16)
Other Technical Electives
Four from Other Technical Elective (16)
Total units
48
- The M.S. in Geotechnical Engineering Thesis Plan
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Requirement
Thesis option (units)
Core Courses
SE 241 Advanced Soil Mechanics (4)
SE 242 Advanced Foundation Engineering (4)
SE 250 Stability of Earth Slopes & Retaining Walls (4)
SE 271. Solid Mechanics for Structural & Aerospace Engineering (4)
Geotechnical Technical Electives
Three Geotechnical Electives (12)
Other Technical Electives
Two from Other Technical Elective (8)
Thesis Research
SE 299. Graduate Research (12)
Total units
48
Core Courses:
SE 241 Advanced Soil Mechanics
SE 242 Advanced Foundation Engineering
SE 250 Stability of Earth Slopes & Retaining Walls
SE 271 Solid Mechanics for Structural & Aerospace Engineering
Geotechnical Electives:
SE 222 Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering
SE 226 Groundwater Engineering
SE 243 Soil-Structure Interaction
SE 244 Numerical Methods in Geomechanics
SE 246 Unsaturated Soil Mechanics
SE 247 Ground Improvement
SE 248 Engineering Properties of Soils
SE 207 Rock Mechanics
SE 207 Soil Dynamics
Other Technical Electives:
SE 201A Advanced Structural Analysis
SE 203A Structural Dynamics I
SE 206 Random Vibrations
SE 211 RC/PC Design
SE 212 Steel Design
SE 213 Bridge Design
SE 220 Seismic Isolation and Energy Dissipation
SE 221 Earthquake Engineering
SE 223 Advanced Seismic Design of Structures
SE 224 Structural Reliability and Risk Analysis
SE 274 Nonlinear Finite Element Methods
SE 276A Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics I
SE 276B Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics II
SE 276C Finite Element Methods in Solid Mechanics III
SE 235 Wave Propagation in Elastic Media
SE 272 Theory of Elasticity
SIO 225 Physics of Earth Materials
SIO 226 Introduction to Marine Geophysics
SIO 227A Introduction to Seismology
SIO 227B Advanced Seismology
SIO 240 Marine Geology
SIO 239 Introduction to the Rheology of Solid Earth